David Axelrod, once an adviser to former President Barack Obama, criticized former President Donald Trump on Monday for mocking President Biden’s stutter. 

Trump was at a campaign rally in Rome, Georgia over the weekend when he mocked Biden’s State of the Union speech. 

‘Mocking someone’s stutter for laughs is pathetic and small, the stuff of schoolyard bullies not grownups,’ Axelrod wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. ‘Acting like a total jack*** doesn’t make you strong.’

In a clip, Trump is seen impersonating Biden saying he was going to ‘going to bring the country t- t- t- t- together. ‘I’m going to bring it together.’

A transcript of Biden’s SOTU speech revealed he didn’t actually say what Trump alleged was said, The Washington Post reported.

Biden has been public about his life-long struggle with stuttering. While talking about the campaign trail on the debate stage in December 2019, Biden imitated a child he met with a stutter, saying to him, ‘I can’t talk.’

Former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders later wrote in a since-deleted tweet, ‘I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I hhhave absolutely no idea what Biden is talking about,’ referring to the debate moment. She clarified in another tweet that she was not mocking people with speech impediments.

Biden responded, ‘I’ve worked my whole life to overcome a stutter. And it’s my great honor to mentor kids who have experienced the same. It’s called empathy. Look it up.’

When questioned by Sen. Tom Cotton on Monday, national security officials grappled with whether they believe Israel is engaged in the systematic destruction of the Palestinian people. 

During the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s annual Worldwide Threats hearing — which was interrupted several times by protesters demonstrating for a ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas — Cotton asked both CIA Director William Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines if Israel was ‘exterminating’ Palestinians in Gaza.

‘Some of our audience members are accusing you of pretty serious conduct,’ Cotton said, referencing the protesters. 

‘I want to give you a chance to respond to what’s been said,’ he continued. ‘Is Israel exterminating the Palestinian people?’

Burns responded: ‘I think there are a lot of innocent civilians in Gaza who are in desperate conditions right now.’ He added that there are also hostages in ‘desperate circumstances.’

When pressed by Cotton, Burns said, ‘No,’ and said he understands Israel’s need to respond to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. But, he said, ‘I think we also have to be mindful of the enormous toll that this has taken on innocent civilians in Gaza.’

The Arkansas Republican then turned the question toward Haines, asking her opinion. 

‘I really don’t have anything to add to what Director Burns has said,’ she explained, adding that she fully endorsed his response. 

When Cotton asked Burns if Israel was starving children, as protesters claimed, the CIA director said, ‘I think the reality is that there are children who are starving.’

The senator pressed him as to whether this was Israel’s doing, to which Burns didn’t respond. 

‘They’re starving,’ Burns reiterated. 

Cotton then stated for the record that he doesn’t believe Israel or any of the national security witnesses are either ‘exterminating the Palestinian people or starving Palestinian children.’

The senator told Fox News Digital afterward that he was ‘disappointed’ by their answers. 

House Republican leaders are expected to vote Wednesday on a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok, even as former President Trump appears to undermine efforts to restrict the app.

Fox News Digital has learned that the House of Representatives is expected to take the bill up under suspension of the rules, meaning it bypasses the usual procedural hurdles in exchange for raising the threshold for passage from a simple majority to two-thirds.

The bill passed through the House Energy and Commerce Committee in an unprecedented bipartisan 50-0 vote on Thursday. 

Later that same day, Trump posted on his Truth Social app, ‘If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business. I don’t want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!’

The measure would ban TikTok from online app stores if its parent company, ByteDance, does not divest from it within 165 days. ByteDance is a Beijing-headquartered tech company that critics say is under the influence of China’s ruling communist party, a claim the company has denied.

But top U.S. officials have warned that TikTok likely gives the Chinese government access to mountains of sensitive American user data, even as the company insists guardrails are in place to prevent that.

Trump’s hesitance about a ban appears to be a shift from his earlier position as president, when he tried to block the app in the U.S. in 2020.

He said in a CNBC interview Monday morning that ‘there’s a lot of good and there’s a lot of bad’ with TikTok. 

Trump conceded he still believes TikTok is a national security threat but added, ‘[Y]ou have that problem with Facebook and lots of other companies, too.’ 

‘When you talk about highly sophisticated companies that you think are American, they are not so American, they deal in China … if China wants anything from them, they will give it, so that’s a national security risk also,’ Trump said.

But Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital brushed off concerns that Trump, as de facto leader of the GOP, could sway House leaders and other members away from their support of the bill.

‘Trump was right about the national security problem posed by TikTok in 2020. And he’s right today that just pushing TikTok users onto Facebook isn’t the answer. That’s why our bill is the right path forward; it surgically removes CCP control and creates an opportunity to put TikTok in better hands,’ one of the bill’s leaders, House China Select Committee Chair Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., told Fox News Digital.

A senior GOP aide told Fox News Digital that a majority of lawmakers are ‘already convicted’ on the issue of TikTok.

‘This is a security threat, and they’re going to do what they can to prevent that. They’ll argue that we’re just asking that it be purchased by [a company in a non-adversarial country], we’re actually not shutting it down. … So, I don’t think a lot of people are necessarily swayed at the moment,’ the senior GOP aide said. ‘[Trump] has been supportive of something like this in the past. I think that people will just kind of roll with that in mind.’

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., two of Trump’s highest-ranking Capitol Hill allies, did not respond when asked for comment on Trump’s criticism of the bill. Both have suggested their support.

President Biden and former President Donald Trump are expected to make their 2024 general election rematch official on Tuesday.

That’s when the Democratic incumbent and his Republican predecessor in the White House are all-but-certain to officially clinch the two major party presidential nominations, as Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington State hold primaries.

With no major challengers left, both Biden and Trump are expected to collect all or nearly all the delegates up for grabs in Tuesday’s contests, putting each of them over the top and making them the Democratic and Republican presumptive presidential nominees.

Trump swept 14 of the 15 GOP primaries and caucuses a week ago, on Super Tuesday – which moved him much closer to officially locking up the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. And Trump’s last rival for the nomination – former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley – dropped out of the race the day after Super Tuesday.

Trump currently has 1,075 delegates. He needs 1,215 to lock up the nomination.

Fifty-nine GOP delegates are up for grabs in Georgia, with 40 at stake in Mississippi and 43 in Washington State. Nineteen more delegates are up for grabs in Hawaii, which holds a Republican presidential caucus later in the evening. 

In the Democratic nomination race, Biden has 1,866 delegates. The president, who also swept 14 of 15 contests last week, needs 1,968 to clinch renomination.

Georgia should put Biden over the top if he captures all 108 delegates up for grabs. Thirty-five Democratic delegates are at stake in Mississippi, with another 92 in Washington State.

Both Biden and Trump made campaign stops Saturday in Georgia, which is also a crucial general election battleground state. Georgia was one of a half dozen states that Biden narrowly carried four years ago as he defeated Trump to win the White House.

The rematch between Biden and Trump is the first for the White House since 1956 – when Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower defeated former Democratic Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois as they faced off for a second time.

Special Counsel Robert Hur is expected to testify on Capitol Hill on his findings following months of investigating President Biden’s mishandling of classified records.

Hur will testify publicly at the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday at 10 a.m. 

Hur, who released his report to the public in February, did not recommend criminal charges against Biden for mishandling and retaining classified documents and stated that he wouldn’t bring charges against Biden even if he were not in the Oval Office.

Those records included classified documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan and other countries, among other records related to national security and foreign policy, which Hur said implicated ‘sensitive intelligence sources and methods.’

Hur did not recommend any charges against the president but did describe him as a ‘sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory’ – a description that has raised significant concerns for Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign.

Biden has blasted Hur since the release of his report, saying his ‘memory is fine’ and that he is the ‘most qualified person in this country to be president.’

Biden also fired back at Hur for suggesting he did not remember when his son Beau died.

‘How dare he raise that?’ Biden said at the time. ‘Frankly, when I was asked a question, I thought to myself, what’s that any of your d— business?’

‘Let me tell you something… I swear, since the day he died, every single day… I wear the rosary he got from Our Lady –’ Biden stopped, seemingly forgetting where the rosary was from.

In his report, Hur wrote: ‘He did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died.’

But two sources familiar with the investigation said it was Biden who brought up Beau’s death in the interview – not the special counsel. 

Meanwhile, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky.; and House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., have demanded the Justice Department turn over the transcript and any recordings of Biden’s interview. 

The three committee leaders are leading the impeachment inquiry against Biden. They subpoenaed the materials last month. 

The Justice Department has not turned over transcripts or audio recordings of Hur’s interview with the president despite the subpoena compelling their production by March 7, a House Judiciary spokesman said.

‘We received a small production from DOJ, but not the transcripts or audio that we need and requested,’ a House Judiciary spokesman told Fox News on Friday. ‘Our staff has all necessary clearances to review the contents of the President’s interview, which dealt with materials found in unsecured areas like garages, closets and commercial office space. We are evaluating next steps.’   

A spokesperson from the Justice Department said, ‘The Department has been in touch with the Committees and anticipated responding to their subpoenas today.’ 

In a response obtained and viewed by Fox News, the DOJ added: 

‘We urge the Committee to join us in seeking to avoid conflict when there is, in fact, cooperation.’ 

‘Given this record, we are disappointed that the Committee chose to serve a subpoena less than three weeks after Mr. Hur’s report was transmitted to Congress and only seven business days after the Department made clear it was working expeditiously to respond in good faith to congressional requests on this matter. This compressed time frame is not reasonable given the standard interagency review process the Department explained to the Committee.’ 

‘Your subpoena is premature and unnecessary given the amount of information the Committee has already received and the Department’s proactive efforts to prepare for responding to congressional requests on this matter.’

Comer told Fox News Digital after the report was released that he wants ‘unfettered access to these documents to determine if President Biden’s retention of sensitive materials were used to help the Bidens’ influence peddling.’

Jordan, Comer and Smith are concerned that ‘Biden may have retained sensitive documents related to specific countries involving his family’s foreign business dealings.’

The Pentagon said U.S. and coalition forces defeated a ‘large-scale attack’ by Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea this weekend, shooting down at least 28 drones. 

The escalated attack is one of the largest in the past few months. 

Earlier in the week, an anti-ship ballistic missile struck the MV True Confidence, killing three and marking the first lives claimed since attacks began. 

On Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said, ‘Following further engagements through the morning, U.S. and Coalition forces downed a total of at least 28 uncrewed aerial vehicles between 4:00 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. (Sanaa time) on March 9. No U.S. or Coalition Navy vessels were damaged in the attack and there were also no reports by commercial ships of damage.’ 

An update announcing the defeat added, ‘US and Coalition Defeat Houthi Attack in Red Sea Area Between 4 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists conducted a large-scale uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) attack into the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. 

‘CENTCOM and coalition forces identified the one-way attack (OWA) UAVs and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels, U.S. Navy, and coalition ships in the region,’ it said. ‘U.S. Navy vessels and aircraft along with multiple coalition navy ships and aircraft shot down 15 OWA UAVs. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.’ 

U.S. Army Vessel General Frank S. Besson departed Virginia on Saturday en route to the Eastern Mediterranean carrying the first equipment to establish a temporary pier in Gaza after President Biden announced the plan during his State of the Union address on Thursday. The U.S. conducted an additional humanitarian aid drop on Sunday. 

In that latest drop alone, CENTCOM said, ‘U.S. C-130’s dropped over 27,600 U.S. meal equivalents and approximately 25,900 bottles of water into Northern Gaza, an area of great need, allowing for civilian access to the critical aid.’ 

During his State of the Union address, Biden said of the emergency mission to establish a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza that ‘no U.S. boots will be on the ground.’ 

‘A temporary pier will enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day,’ Biden said Thursday. ‘And Israel must also do its part. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the crossfire.’ 

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Friday humanitarian aid drops will continue as part of a ‘full court press’ plan to deliver aid to the region.

‘The DoD maintains the ability to provide unique capabilities from offshore without a U.S. military presence within Gaza,’ Ryder added of the planned pier along the Gaza coast. ‘We’re coordinating with other nations to assist with operating the causeway and distributing aid into Gaza. The concept that is being planned involves the presence of U.S. military personnel on military vessels offshore, but does not require U.S. military personnel to go ashore.’ 

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge announced Monday that she is stepping down from her position.

‘It’s time to go home,’’ Fudge told USA Today, which reported that her last day is March 22. ‘I do believe strongly that I have done just about everything I could do at HUD for this administration as we go into this crazy, silly season of an election.’

With her departure, Fudge will become only the second original Cabinet member to leave the Biden administration after Labor Secretary Marty Walsh stepped down last year.

‘From her time as a mayor, to her years as a fierce advocate in the U.S. House of Representatives, Marcia’s vision, passion, and focus on increasing economic opportunity have been assets to our country,’ President Biden said in a statement Monday. ‘I’m grateful for all of her contributions toward a housing system that works for all Americans, and I wish her well in her next chapter.’

Biden described Fudge as a ‘strong voice for expanding efforts to build generational wealth through homeownership and lowering costs and promoting fairness for America’s renters. 

‘Under Marcia’s transformational leadership, we have worked hard to lower housing costs and increase supply. We’ve proposed the largest investment in affordable housing in U.S. history,’ Biden added. ‘We’ve taken steps to aggressively combat racial discrimination in housing by ensuring home appraisals are more fair and by strengthening programs to redress the negative impacts of redlining. Thanks to Secretary Fudge, we’ve helped first-time homebuyers, and we are working to cut the cost of renting. And there are more housing units under construction right now than at any time in the last 50 years.’

Fudge, 71, served as a Democrat in the House of Representatives from 2008 to 2021, representing the 11th Congressional District of Ohio which includes the city of Cleveland. 

‘She was a member of several Congressional Caucuses and past Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus,’ her biography on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website says, adding that in 1999, she ‘was elected the first female and first African American mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, a position she held for two terms.’

Fudge also was the director of Budget and Finance at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office in Ohio.

‘Don’t look for me to ever be on another ballot or another appointee or anything like that,’’ she told USA Today, noting that she wants to spend more time with her mother – who turns 93 next month – and relatives in Ohio. ‘I really do look forward to being a private citizen.’

She also argued that affordable housing should be a key focus for both Democrats and Republicans.

‘‘It is not a red or blue issue,’’ she told USA Today. ‘Everybody knows that it is an issue so it’s not a one-sided issue. It’s an American issue.’’

Fox News’ Peter Doocy and Kaitlin Sprague contributed to this report.